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Vanilla Cake

This is my perfectly soft, plush, and classic vanilla cake recipe, made completely from scratch! So simple to make and tastes much better than box-mix! Be sure to check out the how-to video!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings: 12 slices
Calories: 404 kcal
Course: Dessert , Cake
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ½ ½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • ½ ½ cup avocado, canola or vegetable oil¹
  • 1 ½ 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 4 4 large eggs room temperature preferred
  • 1 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 3 cups all-purpose flour²
  • 1 1 Tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¼ 1 ¼ cup buttermilk room temperature preferred
  • 1 1 batch chocolate frosting click link for recipe, or use one of the other frostings recommended in the notes below

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F (177C) and prepare two deep 8" round cake pans³ by lining the bottoms with parchment paper and lightly greasing the sides. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl using an electric mixer) cream together the butter, canola oil and sugar until creamy and well-combined.
  3. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until thoroughly combined after each addition.
  4. Stir in vanilla extract.
  5. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  6. Using a spatula and gently hand-mixing, alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with flour mixture and mixing until just combined after each addition. The batter should be thoroughly combined, but there may be some small lumps in the batter and avoid over-mixing (and do not use your electric mixer or stand mixer for this step).
  7. Evenly divide batter into your prepared cake pans, and bake on 350F (175C) for 30-35 minutes.  When the cake is done, the surface should spring back to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center should come out mostly clean with few moist crumbs (no wet batter).
  8. Allow cakes to cool in their cake pans for 10-15 minutes before inverting onto cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.
  9. Frost cake using my chocolate frosting (or see notes for other favorite frosting options) and decorate with sprinkles (if desired).

Notes

  • You may use any neutral cooking oil instead of vegetable or canola oil. I generally don't recommend olive oil, which is heavier and has a distinct flavor that could affect the end taste result of your cake. 
  • You may substitute cake flour for all-purpose flour. Use 3 ⅓ cups or 375g of cake flour.
  • Bake times for all pans listed above have been provided by readers who have tested this recipe in different sized pans. Please always use the toothpick test to check for doneness and note that your precise bake time may vary depending on your particular baking pan and your oven. I have not tested this recipe in any other baking pans, other than cupcake tins (details for baking cupcakes listed below).
  • This recipe will make approximately 24 vanilla cupcakes. Fill cupcake liners no more than ¾ of the way full. Bake on 350F for 17-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs or clean. 
  • The chocolate frosting I linked to in the ingredients is my favorite pairing with this cake, but here are some other great options:
  • In the video I mistakenly say to add more buttermilk than is necessary. The written recipe is correct with 1 ¼ cups of buttermilk.
  • 13x9" pan: This recipe makes enough for one 13x9" baking pan. Readers have reported the approximate bake time is 30 minutes.
  • Two 9" pans:  Readers have reported this cake takes approximately 25 minutes to bake in 9" pans.
  • Bundt pan: Readers have reported this cake takes approximately 40-45 minutes to bake in a bundt pan
  • Buttercream Frosting
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Ermine Frosting
  • Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice (without frosting) Calories 404kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 51g (17%) Protein 6g (12%) Fat 20g (31%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 85mg (28%) Sodium 228mg (10%) Potassium 95mg (3%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 26g (52%) Vitamin A 368IU (7%) Calcium 119mg (12%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 404

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice (without frosting)
Calories 404kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 51g 17%
Protein 6g 12%
Fat 20g 31%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 85mg 28%
Sodium 228mg 10%
Potassium 95mg 2%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 26g 52%
Vitamin A 368IU 7%
Calcium 119mg 12%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.